The main aim of this study was to determine the functional effect of 2-methyl-thio-adenosine diphosphate (2MeS-ADP) on vascular purinoceptors, in comparison with that of a characterised agonist of the P2Y1 receptor, 2-methyl-thio-adenosine triphosphate (2MeS-ATP), and of the P2Y2 receptor, uridine triphosphate (UTP). On phenylephrine-precontracted rat aortic rings, mounted isometrically in organ baths, we found that 2MeS-ADP (10(-9) to 10(-6) M) induced concentration-dependent relaxation of rings with a functional endothelium. Mechanical removal of the endothelium abolished the relaxant effect of 2MeS-ADP. The 2MeS-ADP-induced relaxation of phenylephrine-precontracted rings was inhibited by Nomega-nitro-L-arginine methyl ester (L-NAME) (100 microM) but not by indomethacin (100 microM) or aspirin (1 mM), indicating that the 2MeS-ADP-induced relaxation was nitric oxide (NO) synthase-mediated but not cyclooxygenase-dependent. Repeated stimulation with 2MeS-ADP resulted in desensitisation of the receptor. Under these conditions, the relaxant effect of 2MeS-ATP was abolished. On the contrary, UTP-induced relaxation was not affected, showing that 2MeS-ADP and 2MeS-ATP but not UTP shared the same receptor. Suramin (100 microM), a non-specific P2 inhibitor, abolished the effect of 2MeS-ADP, 2MeS-ATP and UTP. In contrast, pyridoxal-phosphate-6-azophenyl-2'-4'-disulphonic acid (PPADS) and adenosine-3'-phosphate-5'-phosphosulphate (A3P5PS) abolished only the vasodilator responses to 2MeS-ADP and 2MeS-ATP and did not affect the relaxant effect of UTP, showing that 2MeS-ADP acted through the P2Y1 receptor. Clopidogrel, a potent platelet ADP receptor antagonist, at a dose that strongly inhibited ADP-induced platelet aggregation ex vivo, did not modify the relaxant responses to 2MeS-ADP or 2MeS-ATP. In conclusion, these results showed that 2MeS-ADP induces endothelium-dependent, NO-mediated relaxation of rat aortic rings. This effect, resistant to clopidogrel treatment, occurred through activation of the P2Y1 receptor.